Israeli settler harrases Palestinian farmers in Jordan Valley

Armed settlers overlook a Palestinian village south of Nablus during confrontations following the setting on fire of Palestinian-owned fields on Jan. 1, 2010. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP, File)

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- An Israeli settler reportedly harassed Palestinian farmers in the northern Jordan Valley on Sunday, preventing them from grazing their livestock, according to official Palestinian Authority (PA)-owned Wafa news agency.

Wafa reported that an Israeli settler from the illegal Rutum settlement chased down Palestinian shepherds out of pastures in the northern Jordan Valley in order to prevent them from feeding their livestock.

Wafa added that shepherds living in the area are subject to near-daily attacks by Israeli settlers residing in nearby illegal settlements.

Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.